One WaterHistory & why reuse?
|
One WaterThere is only one water, the same since the dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Water is continuously recycled in the "water cycle" which is now taught in elementary schools.
There is no "away" in "throw away". When we flush old medicine down the toilet, we contaminate our own local rivers which flow to the Gulf of Mexico. Would you want to drink this... after advanced treatment? Instead of if water can be treated, how much treatment is needed to make it "fit for purpose"? This is the discussion we aim to foster by creating the first effluent home brewed beer made in Chicago. History of WaterAccording to lore, medieval Europeans may have considered beer safer to drink than water before centralized water treatment was common. In 1908, the British scientist Dr. Harriette Chick revealed the laws of disinfection which led to the widespread water treatment with chlorine disinfection which has been heralded by CDC as "one of the top ten greatest public health achievement of the 20th century".
Reuse by the stateIllinois is one of only 12 states that do not allow non-potable reuse, so drinking water is required for everything from toilet flushing to airplane deicing.
Reuse coast-to-coast States regulations USEPA Guidelines for Water Reuse
|
Why reuse in our water-rich region?We don't have to reuse or conserve in the water-rich Great Lakes Region because water is cheap. However, reuse has other benefits including nutrient reduction to improve the water quality in the Chicago River which flows to he Gulf of Mexico. Reuse may also defray long term water and sewer costs for large businesses (i.e., industrial users).
Reuse is "water fashion foreward"The Pure Water Brewing Alliance is a collaboration of water treatment professions and brewers sharing experience and promoting effluent brewing. See what others are doing ...
Potable reuse around the world
|